New HUL CEO has her task cut out

Balancing Local & Global

- VIVEAT SUSAN PINTO

HINDUSTAN UNILEVER'S NEW CEO Priya Nair will be walking a tightrope as she navigates challenges within the domestic fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market.

While Nair will have the benefit of tailwinds that the sector is beginning to see with urban consumption showing signs of improvement, she will be expected to hit the ground running, experts said, to improve growth at the country's largest consumer goods company.

HUL's revenue, earnings and volume growth hovered in the 2-3% range in FY24 and FY25 due to inflationary pressures, urban slowdown concerns and competition from regional and direct-to-consumer brands.

The 53-year-old marketing veteran, who is currently president of beauty & wellbeing at Unilever, will also have the tough task of managing Unilever CEO Fernando Fernandez's expectations of having a more "consistent and coherent global portfolio" in India.